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Bush's approval rating on crucial issues hits low
Topic Started: May 24 2005, 07:30 AM (350 Views)
gvok
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Quote:
 
Bush's approval rating on crucial issues hits a low
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Bush's approval ratings for handling the economy, Iraq and Social Security have fallen to the lowest levels of his White House tenure, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday.
Satisfaction with congressional Republicans also has sagged. By 47%-36%, those polled say the country would be better off if Democrats controlled Congress. That's the best showing for Democrats since the GOP won control of both houses of Congress in 1994. (Related item: Poll results)

Americans express more concern about the price of gas than they do about the high-profile dispute over Democrats' filibuster of Bush's judicial nominations, the survey shows. And they are holding Republicans, who control the White House and Congress, responsible for their unease about the economy and Iraq.

"If people are not happy with the way things are going, the people in charge get the heat," says Andrew Kohut, director of the non-partisan Pew Research Center. A Pew poll released Thursday showed similar trends.

"We don't get caught up in week-by-week polling," White House press secretary Scott McClellan says. Bush "is going to remain focused on the big priorities and build on the progress we're making" on job creation and "spreading freedom."

In the sample of 1,006 adults, 36% call themselves Democrats, 29% Republicans. Including those who "lean" toward a party, 51% are Democrats, 40% Republicans. The survey isn't "weighted" for party ID, which fluctuates from poll to poll. Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, says the poll findings are "dubious" because the breakdown "does not accurately reflect the partisan makeup of America."

Bush's overall approval rating was 46%, down 4 percentage points since early May but higher than the 45% low in March. On specific issues, 40% approved of his handling of Iraq and the economy, 33% of his handling of Social Security.

Only on handling terrorism did Bush receive a net positive rating: 55% approve, 40% disapprove.

Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg says Bush is losing ground on "big, defining issues," including the economy and Iraq. "On Social Security, he's moved from being the person offering interesting ideas to the guy who wants to cut Social Security benefits."

Republican pollster David Winston says gas prices and Iraq violence have "unsettled the electorate" and affected Bush's standing.

There are red flags for Bush on two standard measures of a president's political health. The proportion that says he has "the personality and leadership qualities a president should have" fell to a new low of 52%. A record 57% say they disagree with him on the issues that matter the most to them.

On the filibuster confrontation — defused by a compromise announced late Monday — those surveyed favored the Democrats by 48%-40%. But they saw merit in the arguments of each side. A 53% majority say the filibuster — the ability of at least 41 senators to continue debate and delay a vote — should be preserved. Still, 69% wanted the Senate to hold up-or-down votes on judicial nominees.

Interest in the issue wasn't particularly high, though. A 57% majority wasn't following the news on filibusters closely; more than one in three weren't following it at all.
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Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
Quote:
 
In the sample of 1,006 adults, 36% call themselves Democrats, 29% Republicans. Including those who "lean" toward a party, 51% are Democrats, 40% Republicans. The survey isn't "weighted" for party ID, which fluctuates from poll to poll. Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, says the poll findings are "dubious" because the breakdown "does not accurately reflect the partisan makeup of America."


Gee, I wonder how the results would have been if they used an equal number of Republicans.

There are lies, damned lies, and, as the McPaper has shown, statistics.
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Intrepid2002
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UNGH!
Karl Rove must be on vacation. :P :D
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Intrepid2002
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UNGH!
Admiralbill_gomec
May 24 2005, 10:27 AM
Quote:
 
In the sample of 1,006 adults, 36% call themselves Democrats, 29% Republicans. Including those who "lean" toward a party, 51% are Democrats, 40% Republicans. The survey isn't "weighted" for party ID, which fluctuates from poll to poll. Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, says the poll findings are "dubious" because the breakdown "does not accurately reflect the partisan makeup of America."


Gee, I wonder how the results would have been if they used an equal number of Republicans.

There are lies, damned lies, and, as the McPaper has shown, statistics.

HYPOTHETICAL:

If you polled a bunch of Republicans yesterday, would President Bush get a 100% approval rating?

Just curious.
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Admiralbill_gomec
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Intrepid2002
May 24 2005, 09:19 AM
Admiralbill_gomec
May 24 2005, 10:27 AM
Quote:
 
In the sample of 1,006 adults, 36% call themselves Democrats, 29% Republicans. Including those who "lean" toward a party, 51% are Democrats, 40% Republicans. The survey isn't "weighted" for party ID, which fluctuates from poll to poll. Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, says the poll findings are "dubious" because the breakdown "does not accurately reflect the partisan makeup of America."


Gee, I wonder how the results would have been if they used an equal number of Republicans.

There are lies, damned lies, and, as the McPaper has shown, statistics.

HYPOTHETICAL:

If you polled a bunch of Republicans yesterday, would President Bush get a 100% approval rating?

Just curious.

No, you would probably get numbers in the high 70s or low 80s.

BUT, more Americans now identify themselves as Republicans than Democrats. There was a thread on here just before the election.

It would be nice to either have even numbers or a proportional accounting, but that would be beyond USA Today.

I won't hold my breath.
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Intrepid2002
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UNGH!
So there ARE disgruntled Republicans! :chin: Never thought they existed.
Someone really should think to poll just Republicans. Now the results of that poll would peak my curiousity.

Admiral Bill
 
more Americans now identify themselves as Republicans than Democrats


We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
As I've maintained for years, ratings don't matter.
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Hoss
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Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
I am a marginally-gruntled Republican
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Fesarius
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Admiral
I am a happy Republican. Perhaps I am frequently much too happy. Which reminds me--where is DCS's Happy Thread? ;)
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Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
Intrepid2002
May 24 2005, 09:56 AM
So there ARE disgruntled Republicans! :chin: Never thought they existed.
Someone really should think to poll just Republicans. Now the results of that poll would peak my curiousity.

Admiral Bill
 
more Americans now identify themselves as Republicans than Democrats


We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

Just like there were disgruntled Democrats. How is this new?

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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
I think the answer is simple. Bush is spending all of his political capital on a proposed Social Security plan that favors the rich, would destroy the plan, and that most Americans do not want.

He should wake up, drop Social Security and focus on securing the border (which Americans do want).
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psyfi
psyfi
who
May 24 2005, 07:50 PM
I think the answer is simple. Bush is spending all of his political capital on a proposed Social Security plan that favors the rich, would destroy the plan, and that most Americans do not want.

He should wake up, drop Social Security and focus on securing the border (which Americans do want).

Well I am a hundred percent for securing the borders but as ABG pointed out "this" isn't happening at all. The poll is a sham that is overloaded with Democrats and that is why Bush's approval rating came out so low.
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
Fesarius
May 24 2005, 12:34 PM
I am a happy Republican. Perhaps I am frequently much too happy. Which reminds me--where is DCS's Happy Thread? ;)

Really got to lay of those happypills - they are habit forming . :Fes:
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
Somerled,

But some habits are not good to break. ;)
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psyfi
psyfi
Fesarius
May 25 2005, 08:14 AM
^^^
Somerled,

But some habits are not good to break. ;)

I woke up late. I have a sinus headache and a kitchen full of dirty dishes. The plumber is coming today because there is a problem with the cesspool, the results of which you don't even want to know. In a few minutes, despite my pounding headache, I have to get my 90 year old mother up and give her a bath. May I please have a happy pill?
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